Switch



Dec. 5, 1933. N JAQB| 1,937,657

SWITCH Filed April 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 15 9.]: :fjl 0 @WMM/ Dec5, 1933. JACOB} 1,937,657

SWITCH Filed April 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gMWmW v Edward N. Jacuh1Patented Dec. 5, 1933 SWITCH Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignorto Briggsiand Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application Aprilll 9, 1928. Serial No. 271,319 l 24 Claims.(01, 1200-41 This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in switchesof that'type especially designed to be mountedat the lower end portion of an automotive vehicle steering gear withmeans for operating the same from the upper end of the steering gear.

It is'an object of this invention to provide an improved and simplifiedswitch structure of the character described which is of extremelysimplified construction wherein the tension of the movable springcontact provides the force to produce a detent action obtained through aplurality of ball members cooperating with pockets or indentations inthe closed wall of the switch con tainer and in a switch actuator andball retainer member. I

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improvedswitch structurewherein the flange of a switchactuator is confinedagainst axialmotion by the mounting plate or bracket and the switchcasing, the flange being provided with grooves through which. drivingtongues pass so that rotation of the actuator actuates the switchinstrumentalities.

Itis a further object of this invention to provide positive stop meansfor limiting the rota,- tion of the switch instrumentalities and forholding the drive tube rigid while its jam nut is being tightened orloosened to connect or disconnect the control rod therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed andmore particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete exampleof-the physical embodiment of my invention constructedaccording to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which; g

Figure is a view taken through a switch structure embodying myinvention, parts thereof being in section and parts in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a rear plan view thereof looking on the plane of the line2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspectiveview of the actuator;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the switch casing;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combination driver, retainer anddetent member;

, 11 over its open face. The cover 11 is of insulatdisposed inregistering pockets 26 and 2'7,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the contact carrying ring; and

Figure '7 is a perspective View of the contact plate with the contactsmounted thereon.'

Referring now more particularly to the a'ccom- 60 panying drawings, inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views,the numeral 5 designates a switch unitof special con-, structiomto belater described, to which a mounting bracket 6 issultably secured bYjDOt welding,

55 rivetingor the like, the bracket '6 being bolted 1 or otherwisesecured to the lower end of a steering gear element, not shown, inamanner similar to that illustrated and described in my co-pendingapplication, filed May 13,' 1927, Serial No. The bracket 6 has acentralaperture '7 through whichthe lower end of an actuating rod 8extends, the rod being rotatably mounted within the steering COIllIIlll,not shown, and having -a suitable lever or other operating means, notshown, on its upper end. i

The switch unit consists of a substantially cupshaped housing 9 havinglugs or tongues 10 extended from its peripheral edge to secure a covering material and has a plurality of spaced contact members 13 embeddedin its inner face and electrically connected with terminal members 14mounted on its exterior and to which the wiresof the various circuitsare connected. 5

The bottom wall 15 of the switch housing has its centralp'ortion struckinwardly, as at,12, and centrally apertured, as at 16, to register withthe aperture? of the bracket member, which is likewise struck outwardlyin register with the instruck portion 12 of the housing to provide twospaced co-operating flanges 17 and 18 between which the .fiange 19-of anactuator 20 is rotatably confined. The actuator is of tubularconstructionbto receive the rod 8 and has its outer end 2ll'taperinglyreduced and externally threaded and slotted, as at 22, to receive a jamnut 23 for binding the actuator fast to the rod.

The flange 19 of the actuator has diametrically opposed slots 24 thereinwhich permit the insertion of the flange 19 in the space between theflanges 12 and 18 and also provide the means for operating the switchinstrumentalities, as later described. Rotatably within the bottom ofthe casing is a retainer and driver member 25 of substantially discshape having a plurality of indentations or pockets 26 which'are adaptedto register with similar'pockets 27 in the housing bottom wall 15,detent ball members 28 being movement of the driver and retainermemberto.

accommodate the movement of the ball members 28 into and out of-thepockets 26.

V Mounted within the casing next to the driver and retainer'member is afiber contact carrying disc or ring 31 the central aperture 32 oi whichis provided with diametrically opposed notches 33 to receive drivingtongues or lugs 34 struck upwardly fromthe member in a directionopposite to its tongue 29 whereby the ring vis drivingly connected withthe'member 25. The member 31 is further provided with'notches or re-.

cesses 35 in which the fastening lugs 36 of a contact support 37 engage,the contact support carrying spring contact fingers 38 which selectivelybridge the pairs of stationary contacts 13.

.The contact fingers 38, being at all times under compression, maintainpressure on the fiber ring 31 which in operation is transmitted to themember 25 so that the necessary yieldability is imparted thereto; and,as therod 8 is rotated through its lever member, not shown,corresponding movement is given the fiber contact carrying ring 31 tovary the circuits completed by the bridging of the contacts 13 by themember 25 which is drivingly connected withthe rod through the actuator20. At distinct positions of the switch, the balls ride into theindentations,

providing a positive detent action to clearly 'de'- fine thefullposition or theswitch.

The manner of mounting the actuator 20 be-' tween the flanges 17 and 18prevents its axial movement and the stops 30 beinginte'gral with thebracket member 6 which is of heavier material than thecasing 9 providesa r g ed con- 'struction to facilitatetightening of the jam nut 23without necessitating the use of a tool to hold the actuator as the nut23 is tightened or loosened.

From the foregoing .descriptionQtaken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of the character described appertains thatI provide an improved switch constructionwhich'has a detent' action todistinctly define each switchposition and which is of extremelysimplified and rugged construction.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A switch of the character described, comprising astationary casehavingia'plurality of recesses in one wall, a terminal head oppositesaid'wall and having stationary'contacts, a contact carrier within thecase, spring contactscarried bysaid carrier for engagement with thestationary contacts on the terminal head, a driver for the contactcarrier of stiff material and having recesses, balls disposed betweenthe driver and said wallof the'case to engage in the driver recesses, aconnection between the contact carrier and the driver whereby the springcontacts yieldably urge the driver toward the said wall of the case tomaintain a yielding pressure on the driver to provide a detent action asthe driver is rotated with respect to the case, and means for rotatingsaid driver.

2. In a switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing case, a cover closing the casing and carrying switchterminals, switch instrumentalities mounted within the case andccoperable with the switch terminals, anactuator passed through acentral aperture in the end wall of the case and extending through thecover, a flange carried by the actuator and engaging the case-end wallabout said aperture, said flange having a recess and an external platefixed to the end wall of the case. andhaving a part engaging theunrecessed portion of said actuator flange to confine the actuatoragainst axial movement, alignment of the recess with said external platepart enabling disengagement of the actuator flange from said part.

3. In a switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing case, a cover closing the case and carrying switch terminals,

switch instrumentalities mounted within the case andc'ooperable with theswitch terminals, anactuating member having a'partin a central aperturein the end wall of the case and extending through the cover, a mountingbracket for the switch and secured to the case end wall, and cooperatingmeans between the case end wall bracket member and actuating memberadapted to be engaged to confine the actuating member against axialmovement, said cooperating means being disengageable when inpredetermined relative positions. a

'4. In a switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing case having an end wall, switch instrumentalities mountedwithin the case and including a switch driver, an actuator for thedriver passed through an opening in the end wall of the case and havinga slotted flange, and a tang carried by the switch w driver andengageable in the slot of the'actuator fiange whereby rotation of'theactuator imparts similarmovement to the switch driver.

5. In, a switch of they character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing case, switch instrumentalities mounted within the case andincluding a switch driver, an actuator for the driver having a slottedflange, a tang carried by the switch driver and engageable in the slotor the actuator flange whereby rotation of the actuto the switch atorimparts similar movement through driver, said driver tang being extendedthe actuator flange and therebeyond, and means rigid withrespect to thecase and engageable by the tang extended end to limit the rotation ofthe actuator and switch driver.

6. Ina switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing case, switch instrumentalities mounted within the case andincluding a switch driver, anactuator for the driver having a slottedflange, tangs carriedby the switch driver and engageable' in the slotsof the actuatorfiange whereby rotation of the actuator imparts similarmovement to the switch driver, said driver tangs being extended throughthe actuator flange and therebeyon'd, means rigid with respect to thecase and engageable by the tangextended ends to'limitthe rotation of theactuator and switch driver, and detent means cooperating with saiddriver to', cause the same to move in definite steps, saidtangs havinglongitudinal movement in said actuator slot to accommodate sidewisemovement of the driver with respect to the case end wall.

7. In a switch of the character described, in-

rality of depressions in its end wall, a cover closing the casing andhaving stationary contacts, a

eluding a casing and switch instrumentalities 'mounted within the casingand embodying a movable contact having axial movements, a driver for thecontact and an actuator for the driver extended into the casing, meansoutside the casing forming a splined joint between the driver andactuator permitting .relative axial movements therebetween whilepreventing relative, rotational movements therebetween.

8. In a switch of the character described, including a casing and switchinstrumentalities mounted within the casing and embodying inovnectingthe driver and actuator whereby the driver is permitted relative axialmovement withv respect to the actuator but is held from'relativerotational movement with respect thereto.

9. In a switchof the character described, a substantially cup shapedenclosing casing, switch instrumentalities mounted within the casing andincluding a switch driver, an actuator for the driver passed through anopening in the end wall of the casing and having a slotted flange on theoutside of the casing, and a tang carried by the switch driver andextending through the end wall of the casing to engage in the slot ofthe actuator flange whereby rotation of the actuator imparts similarmovement to the switch driver.

10. In a switch ofthe character described, in-- cluding a casing andswitch instrumentalities mounted within the casing and embodying amovable contactor, a drive member within the casing for the movablecontactor, an actuator disposed axially within the casing, cooperatingmeans carried by the driver and th actuator for imparting rotation tothe driver while permitting axial movement thereof, and meanscooperating with the driver and the casing for providing a detentaction.

11. In a switch of the character described, including a casing andswitch instrunientalities mounted within the casing and embodying amovable contactor, a switch driver within the casing, an actuator, andmeans carried by the switch driver and engageable with the actuator toafford a driving connection therebetween and with a casin carried partto define the limits of movement of the switch driver and consequentlythe movable contactor.. a

12. In a device of the character described, in eluding a substantiallycup shaped casing and switch instrumentalities mounted within the casingand embodying a movable contactor, an actuator, balls disposed indepressions formed in the casing bottom wall, and a single member fordriving the movable contactor from the actuator and for engaging saidballs to provide a detent action.

13. In a switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedcasing, switch instrumentalities within the casing and including amovable contactor, a driver for said movable contactor disposed withinthe casing adjacent the bottom wall of the casing, balls disposedbetween the driver and the bottom wall of the casing and engaging thesame to afford a detent action, and means engageable with the driver formoving the contactor.

14. In a switch of the character described, a substantially cup shapedcasing having a pluwithin the casing,

movable'contactor formedof spring metal and movable to engagement withthe stationary contacts, a driver for the movable contactor, ballsbetween the driver and the end wall of the casing disposed in thedepressions in the casing end wall and engaging the driver, the actionof said spring contactor yieldably urging the drivertoward the end wallof the casing and retaining the balls in operative relationtherebetween, and means engageable with the driver for impartingmovement thereto.

15. A switch of the character described, comprising a substantially cupshaped casing having:

circumferentially arranged depressions in its end wall, a cover closingthe casing and having stationary contacts thereon, a movable cont-actorwithin the casing and movable for engagement with the stationarycontacts, a driver for moving the contactor, means connecting the driverwith the contactor while maintaining the-same insulated therefrom, ballmeans between the driver and the casing end wall and disposedin the endwall depressions to afiord a detent action, and means engageable withthe driver for imparting movement thereto.

16. A switch of the character described, coznprising an enclosing casinghaving a plurality of circumferentially arranged depressions in onewall, a cover for the casing having stationary contacts, a springcentactor movable within the casing for engagement with thestationarycontacts, a driver for the contactor, ball means between thedriver and said casing wall and disposed in the depressions to afford adetentaction, the inherent resiliencyof the contactor yield ably urgingthe driver toward the casing wall having the depressions, and meansengageable with the driver for imparting movement thereto.

17. In a switch. of the character described, including an enclosingcasing and switch instrumentalities embodying a movable contactor adriver for the movable contactonan actuator, means carried by the driverand engageable with the actuator to alford' a driving connectiontherebetween and engageable with a fixed element to define the limits ofmovement of the movable contactor, and means engageable with the driverto provide a detent action;

18. In a switch of the character described, a casing, switchinstrumentalities rotatable within the casing between predeterminedlimits, an actuator extending through an opening in one wall of thecasing for imparting rotation to the switch instrumentalities, a flangeon the actuator engaging the said wall of the casing adjacent theopening, and spaced lugs carried by the casing and overlying the flangeto retain the actuator assembled with the casing throughout the movementof the actuator to effect the normal rotation of the switchinstrumentalities.

19. In a switch of the character described, a casing having an openingin one wall, switch instrumentalities rotatable between predeterminedlimits within the casing, an actuator for imparting rotation to theswitch instrumentalities and having a portion extending through saidopening in the casing wall, a flange on the actuator engaging the casingwall about the periphery of the opening, and a mounting bracket for thecasing having a portion overlying the actuator flange to confine thesame between it and the said casing wall, said mounting bracket portionand the flange being so shaped with respect to each other nected withthe switch instrumentalities, anda' lug carried by the said casing walland extending radially with respect to the axis'of the opening to overlythe actuator flange andc'onfine it between the lug and the casing wall,said lug being of such size as to pass through the recess in the flange,wherebythe flange is readily insertable between the lug and the casingwall in one position of the actuator.

21. In a' switch of the character described, a casing having an openingthrough one wall, rotatable switch instrumentalities within the easing,an actuator for the switch instrumentalities having a portion projectingthrough the opening in said wall, a flange on the actuator exteriorly ofsaid wall and engaging the same about the peripheral edge of theopening, said flange having spaced recesses, means connected with therotatable switch instrumentalities and extending through the opening inthe casing wall to engage in said recesses and drivingly connect theactuator with the switch ins'truinentalities, and: a member connectedwith the said wall of the casing and having spaced lugs overlying theactuator flange to confine the same'between the lugs and the said casingwall, said lugs being of such size and being so located as to bereceived in the recesses in the actuator flange in a predeterminedposition of rotation of the actuator with respect I to the casing toenable the actuator flange to be engaged between the lugs and the saidwall of the casing. l i s g 22. A switch of the characterdescribed'comprising a casing having an opening through one wall,rotatable switch instrumentalities within the casing an actuator for theswitch instrumentalities and having a portion extending through saidopening in the casing wall, a flange on the actuator exteriorly of saidwall and engageable with the wall about the peripheral edgeportion meansconnected 7 of the opening, said flange having opposed recesses, meansnon-rotatably connected with the switch instrumentalities and havinglugs projected through the opening to engage in said opposed. recesseswhereby the actuator is drivingly connected with the switchinstrumentalities, said actuator and switch instrumentalities having apredetermined degree of rotationinthe performance of their normalswitching functions, and a mounting bracket connected with the said Wallof the casing and having opposed abutments overlying the actuator flangeto hold it against the casing wall, said abutments being of suchsize'and so located as to pass through the actuator flange recesses in apredetermined position of rotation of the actuator and providing stopabutments with which the lugs oi the switch instrumentalities carriedmember engage to define the a the limits of rotation. I r

23. In a switch of the character described, 'a' casing having an openingin one wall, rotatable ,switch in strurnentalities within the casing, anactuator for drivingthe switch instrumentalities I and having a partextending through said opening, a flange on the actuator exteriorly ofthe casing wall and engaging the wall about theperiphery of the opening,means non-rotatably connected with the switch instrumentalities andhaving spacedlugs projected through the opening for engagement in'spacedrecesses in the actuator flange, and a mounting bracket fixed tothe'wall of the casing with a portion thereof overlying the actuatorflange to confine the same between it and the saidcasing wall andextending into the or the lugs engaged in the flange recesses to limitthe rotation of the actuator and switch instrumentalities. v

24. In an electric switch comprising in combination; a casing havingparallel walls; a movable contact carrier and a movable contact plateprovided between said walls; said contact plate having, tongues fordrivingly connecting the plate to the carrier and having axial movementtherewith; a driving shaft having a portion within the housing andhaving means for receiving a portion of said carrier for drivinglyconnecting the carrier with the shaft and providing relative axialmovement between said shaft and the carrier; and actuating means, andmeansvfor connecting the shaft to the actuating means to rotate thecontact carrier.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.

